Whistle Lake Dam dam
Whistle Lake Dam
Whistle Lake Dam, located in Anacortes, Washington, was completed in 1925 for the primary purpose of recreation. This earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 15 feet and a structural height of 7 feet, with a length of 75 feet. With a maximum storage capacity of 200 acre-feet and a normal storage of 140 acre-feet, the dam serves as a fish and wildlife pond in addition to providing recreational opportunities for visitors.
Despite its historical significance and recreational value, Whistle Lake Dam has a high hazard potential and is currently assessed to be in poor condition. The last inspection in August 2017 highlighted the need for improvements and maintenance to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure. The Washington Department of Ecology regulates the dam, overseeing its permitting, inspection, and enforcement to mitigate risks and protect the surrounding community and environment.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to recognize the importance of maintaining and enhancing infrastructure like Whistle Lake Dam to preserve water resources and support ecosystem health. By addressing the dam's poor condition and implementing risk management measures, stakeholders can ensure the safety of the dam while continuing to enjoy its recreational and ecological benefits in the Skagit County area.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Whistle Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Skagit River Near Mount Vernon | 15,000 cfs | → |
| Samish River Near Burlington | 102 cfs | → |
| Brannian Creek At S Bay Dr Nr Wickersham | 2 cfs | → |
| Anderson Creek Near Bellingham | 4 cfs | → |
| Olsen Creek Near Bellingham | 2 cfs | → |
| Carpenter Creek At N Shore Drive Nr Bellingham | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Whistle Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Boat Launch Road, Anacortes
- 210 Anacortes
- Rosario Road Skagit County
- Bowman Bay/Rosario Beach Trail Skagit County
- State Route 20 899, Skagit County
- T Avenue 209, Anacortes
Campgrounds
- Quaker Cove Retreat
- Washington Park Campground
- Bay View State Park
- Cascade Marine Trail, Campsite For Human Powered Boats
- Staysail Rv Park - Oak Harbor
- Oak Harbor City Beach Park
Paddle runs
- Canyon Creek To Confluence With North Fork Stillaguamish River
- Fish Hatchery To Confluence With South Fork Nooksack River
- Bell Creek To Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Nf Boundary
- Headwaters To Confluence With Bell Creek
- Headwaters In Ne1/4 Of Sec 23, T37n, R7e To Confluence With Soufh Fork Nooksack River
- Nooksack Falls Power Plant To Fish Hatchery Near Kendall, Wa
Track Whistle Lake Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Whistle Lake Dam
Where does the data for Whistle Lake Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Whistle Lake Dam.